Adaptable machining system

Abstract

An adaptable machining system includes a plurality of transport units mounted on a machine base with each transport unit carrying a system-standard mounting plate that receives a tool-carrying module. Each tool-carrying module includes a machining tool and associated motor mounted on a system-standard tooling plate which, with the mounting plate of the transport unit, define a system-standard tooling interface. The transport units, under the coordinated control of a system controller, advance their respective tooling modules to and from a work piece to accomplish their machining function. The mounting plate of each transport unit establishes an orthogonal reference system relative to the operating axes of the machine so that the position of each tool carried on a tooling module is known relative to the operating axes of the machine. Tooling change over from one set of tooling modules to another can be accomplished with a minimum of machine down time by removing the prior set of tooling modules and installing a replacement set. Since the system-standard tooling interface pre-establishes an orthogonal reference system for each tooling module, each tooling module can be bench fabricated and set-up to minimize tooling set-up time.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adaptable machining system comprising: a machine base having a plurality of defined workstation positions to which respective workstations may be secured and means defining a multi-axis reference system; and   a workstation secured to each of said workstation positions, each of said workstations including a transport unit having a stationary member secured to a workstation position and a module-receiving member mounted for movement relative to said stationary member to and from a workpiece machining position, said module-receiving member of each transport unit establishing a multi-axis coordinate system relative to the multi-axis reference system of said machine base; a tool module for mounting upon respective module-receiving members of each transport unit and including a tool and means for driving said tool, each of said tool modules having an interface member for cooperatively engaging its respective module-receiving member to dimensionally define the position of said tool module relative to the multi-axis coordinate system of the respective module-receiving member and the multi-axis reference system of said machine base,   wherein said module-receiving members further comprise surface means for defining respective first, second, and third coordinate defining surfaces for the respective interface member, and   wherein said interface members further comprise first, second, and third surfaces for engaging said first, second, and third coordinate defining surfaces of said module-receiving member.   
     
     
       2. The adaptable machining system of claim 1, wherein said transfer units further comprise: a slide member mounted for sliding movement relative to a stationary member secured to said machine base, said slide member including said surface means that define respective first, second, and third coordinate defining surfaces for the respective interface member.   
     
     
       3. The adaptable machining system of claim 2, wherein said interface members comprise: a tool mounting plate having first and second adjustable positioning means for engaging said first and second coordinate defining surfaces of said slide member and having a surface for engaging said third coordinate defining surface of said slide member.   
     
     
       4. The adjustable machining system of claim 3, wherein said adjustable positioning means each comprise a threaded member positioned between said tool mounting plate and said slide member and adjustable to control the distance between said tool mounting plate and said first and second coordinate defining surfaces. 
     
     
       5. The adaptable machining system of claim 4, wherein each threaded member is in threaded engagement with said tool mounting plate and maintained in surface contact with their respective coordinate defining surface. 
     
     
       6. The adaptable machining system of claim 5, wherein said third locating surfaces is defined by a plurality of discrete mounting pads in said slide member. 
     
     
       7. The adaptable machining system of claim 6, wherein said discrete mounting pads define said third coordinate defining surface above the surface of said slide member to define a clearance space therebetween. 
     
     
       8. An adaptable maching system comprising: a machine base having a plurality of defined workstation positions to which respective workstations may be secured and means defining a multi-axis reference system; and   at least one workstation secured to one of said workstation positions, said workstation including a transport unit having a stationary member secured to the workstation position and a module-receiving member mounted for movement relative to said stationary member to and from a workpiece machining position, said module-receiving member establishing a multi-axis coordinate system relative to the multi-axis reference system of said machine base; a tool module for mounting upon said module-receiving member of said transport unit and including a tool and means for driving said tool, said tool module having an interface member for cooperatively engaging said module-receiving member to dimensionally define the position of said tool module relative to the multi-axis coordinate system of the module-receiving member and the multi-axis reference system of said machine base,   wherein said module-receiving member further comprises surface means for defining respective first, second, and third coordinate defining surfaces for said interface member, and   wherein said interface members further comprise first, second, and third surfaces for engaging said first, second, and third coordinate defining surfaces of said module-receiving member.   
     
     
       9. The adaptable machining system of claim 8, wherein said transfer unit further comprises: a slide member mounted for sliding movement relative to a stationary member secured to said machine base, said slide member including said surface means for defining first, second, and third coordinate defining surfaces for said interface member.   
     
     
       10. The adaptable machining system of claim 9, wherein said surface means defining said third coordinate defining surface comprises a plurality of discrete mounting pads. 
     
     
       11. The adaptable machining system of claim 9, wherein said interface member comprises: a tool mounting plate having first and second adjustable positioning means for engaging said first and second coordinate defining surfaces of said slide member and having a surface for engaging said third coordinate defining surface of said slide member.   
     
     
       12. The adjustable machining system of claim 11, wherein said adjustable positioning means each comprise a threaded member positioned between said tool mounting plate and said slide member and adjustable to control the distance between said tool mounting plate and said first and second coordinate defining surfaces. 
     
     
       13. An adaptable machining system comprising: a machine base having means for defining a dimensional reference system including mutually perpendicular X and Y axes and a plane H at a selected position relative to a Z axis that is normal to said X and Y axes, said machine base including a plurality of workstation position having a defined position relative to said X and Y axes and said plane H;   at least one workstation secured to one of said workstation positions, said workstation including a transport unit having a stationary member secured to said machine base and a module-receiving member movable relative to said stationary member to and from a workpiece machining position, and means for moving said module-receiving member relative to said stationary member to and from the workpiece machining position, said module-receiving member including means for defining a reference system including mutually perpendicular axes X' and Y' that are substantially parallel, respectively, with the axes X and Y and a plane H' that is spaced from and substantially co-planar with the plane H; a tool module for mounting upon said module-receiving member and including a tool and a means for driving said tool, said tool module having a interface member for cooperatively engaging said module-receiving member to dimensionally define the position of said tool module relative to the axis X' and Y' and the plane H'.   
     
     
       14. The adaptable machining system of claim 13, wherein said transport unit comprises: a stationary member secured to said machine base and having an elongated guideway;   a module-receiving slide plate mounted upon said elongated guideway for guided movement along an operating axis; and   controllable drive means connected between said module-receiving slide plate and said stationary member for causing controlled movement of said module-receiving member along said guideway.   
     
     
       15. The adaptable machining system of claim 14, wherein said controllable drive means comprises: means defining a leadscrew connection between said module-receiving slide plate and said stationary member for causing controlled movement of said module-receiving member along said guideway in response to rotation of said leadscrew; and   rotary drive means coupled to said leadscrew for causing rotation thereof to cause controlled movement of said module-receiving member along said guideway.   
     
     
       16. The adaptable machining system of claim 14, further comprising: first and second locating means coupled to said slide plate for defining the X' and Y' axes.   
     
     
       17. The adaptable machining system of claim 16, further comprising: a plurality of mounting pads connected to said slide plate and defining the plane H'.   
     
     
       18. The adaptable machining system of claim 17, wherein said mounting pads define mounting surfaces spaced from the surface of said slide plate. 
     
     
       19. The adaptable machining system of claim 16, wherein said first and second locating means comprise locating plates connected to said slide plate and having surfaces defining the X' and Y' axes. 
     
     
       20. The adaptable machining system of claim 17, wherein said interface member comprises a tooling plate for mounting upon said slide member and including means for engaging said first and second locating means and said mounting pads to establish the position of said tooling plate relative the X' and Y' axes and the plane H. 
     
     
       21. The adaptable machining system of claim 20, further comprising: adjustment means between said tooling plate and said first and second locating means for adjusting the dimensional relationship therebetween.   
     
     
       22. The adaptable machining system of claim 20, wherein said adjustment means comprise threaded members. 
     
     
       23. The adaptable machining system of claim 13, further comprising: an auxiliary tooling unit having at least one workpiece affecting means and detachably connected to said machine base by an umbilical for electrical and non-electrical power.   
     
     
       24. An adaptable machining system comprising: a machine base having means for defining a dimensional reference system including mutually perpendicular X and Y axes and a plane H at a selected position relative to a Z axis that is normal to said X and Y axes, said machine base including a plurality of workstation positions having a defined position relative to said X and Y axes and said plane H; and   a plurality of workstations secured to respective ones of said workstation positions, each workstation including a transport unit having a stationary member secured to said machine base and a module-receiving member movable relative to said stationary member along an operating axis to and from a workpiece machining position, and means for moving said module-receiving member relative to said stationary member along its operating axis to and from the workpiece machining position, at least one transport unit having its operating axis aligned along one of the X and Y axes and the other transport units having their operating axes aligned along the other of the X and Y axes, said module-receiving member of each transport unit including means for defining a reference system including mutually perpendicular axes X' and Y' that are substantially parallel, respectively, with the axes X and Y and a plane H' that is spaced from and substantially co-planar with the plane H; a tool module for mounting upon said module-receiving member and including a tool and a means for driving said tool, said tool module having a interface member for cooperatively engaging said module-receiving member to dimensionally define the position of said tool module relative to the axis X' and Y' and the plane H'.   
     
     
       25. The adaptable machining system of claim 24, wherein at least one of said other transport units is positioned on one side of the operating axis of said one transport unit and at least a second of said other transport units is positioned on the other side of said operating axis of said one transport unit. 
     
     
       26. The adaptable machining system of claim 25, further comprising: a tooling gantry connected to interface members mounted upon the module-receiving members of said at least one and said at least second transport units.   
     
     
       27. The adaptable machining system of claim 24, wherein said transport unit comprises: a stationary member secured to said machine base and having an elongated guideway;   a module-receiving slide plate mounted upon said elongated guideway for guided movement along its operating axis; and   controllable drive means connected between said module-receiving slide plate and said stationary member for causing controlled movement of said module-receiving member along said guideway.   
     
     
       28. The adaptable machining system of claim 27, wherein said controllable drive means comprises: means defining a leadscrew connection between said module-receiving slide plate and said stationary member for causing controlled movement of said module-receiving member along said guideway in response to rotation of said leadscrew; and   rotary drive means coupled to said leadscrew for causing rotation thereof to cause controlled movement of said module-receiving member along said guideway.   
     
     
       29. The adaptable machining system of claim 24, further comprising: first and second locating means coupled to said slide plate for defining the X' and Y' axes.   
     
     
       30. The adaptable machining system of claim 29, further comprising: a plurality of mounting pads connected to said slide plate and defining the plane H'.